The idea was to force drivers with disabled license plates and placards to pay to park at meters at the first time while reserving as many as 1,800 on-street spaces for such drivers. The spaces would have had parking meters painted red.

About 400 such meters have already been installed. John Lisle, a spokesman for the District Department of Transportation, said they will probably be painted gray. He said the department still hopes to provide more accessible parking for disabled people.